Container fitment having ellipsoidal opening

ABSTRACT

A fitment for use in the discharge of pourable contents from a container wherein the constancy of uniform flow of contents from the container is minimally, if at all, adversely affected by the need for accommodating inflow of ambient air into the container as the contents are discharged from the container, the fitment including a conduit an exit end having an ellipsoidal cross-sectional geometry including a minor portion and an major portion, the geometry of the conduit exit being oriented uppermost toward (topwise of) the top end of the container. A method is disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to fitments (pour spouts) for containers,particularly paperboard containers, useful for the discharge of pourablesubstances from the container and for selectively closing and sealingthe container against the discharge of its contents.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Containers for pourable substances, such as juices, milk, etc. commonlyinclude a pouring spout, commonly called a fitment in the industry,which is associated with the top end of the container. Desirably, suchpour spout is mounted in covering relationship to an opening definedthrough the thickness of the top end of the container, includes a tamperevident component and a cap for selectively reclosing the spout forstorage of contents remaining in the container.

Paperboard is a common material used in the manufacture of containersfor pourable substances. Closures for the top end of many paperboardcontainers include the well-known gable top type end closure wherein thetop end of the container includes at least two flat panels which rise atacute angles toward each other from opposite side panels of thecontainer and have their distal edges joined together in the form of afin which extends across the width of the container.

Heretofore it has been common to define an opening through one of thetop flat panels and mount a pour spout in covering relationship to theopening to define a conduit through which the contents of the containermay be poured from the container.

Desirably, the fitment is also provided with a tamper evident component.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,133,486; 5,735,426 and 6,390,342 disclose fitmentswhich include an integrally formed tear-away membrane which seals aconduit defined by the fitment until the membrane is pulled away, as bya finger ring, to initially open the conduit for the flow of thecontainer contents therethrough. This tear-away membrane provides tamperevident protection for the contents of the container. Further, caps usedto reclose the conduit for storage of unused contents of the containerare disclosed in these patents. These fitments are of the two-piecevariety in that the cap is neither integrally formed with nor otherwiseattached to the fitment or container.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,135,441; 3,239,112; 3,458,080 and 4,022,357 disclosefitments of a one-piece variety wherein the reclosable cap of thefitment is integral with the fitment. These fitments are of theone-piece variety.

All known fitments of the prior art employ a true circular openingdefined through the wall thickness of the container, usually through apanel which is a part of the top end closure of the container. Further,the known prior art fitments define a true cylindrical conduit for thedischarge of the contents of the container. Such conduit establishes aflow path of a finite length along which the contents of the containermust flow as they exit the container. This flow path further providesthe only path for the entry of ambient air into the container to replacethe outgoing volume of pourable substance and thereby avoid thedevelopment of a vacuum within the container as the outpouring ofcontents proceeds. Most commonly when the contents of the container arebeing discharged through the conduit, the outgoing substance, commonly aliquid, fully fills the conduit and blocks the inflow of replacement airuntil such time as the vacuum developed inside the container overcomesthe outflow of contents. Thereupon, there is a sudden rush of air intothe container and a concomitant dramatic fluctuation in the rate ofoutflow of the container contents. This action is likened to a burp anddramatically disrupts the desired continuity of the outflow of thecontents from the container. Much splatter of the contents may occurand/or spillage of the contents outside a receptacle provided for thereceipt of the outflowing contents. One effort to avoid this undesirablesituation has been to insert a separate air intake tube leading fromoutside to the interior of the container. Manufacture of fitments withsuch tubes is difficult and costly. Further, placement of the inboardend of the tube such that the tube itself does not become filled withcontents from the container, and thereby fail as an air intake to thecontainer, has not successfully been solved in the prior art. In someinstances, the rate of discharge of the contents from the containergreatly exceeds the flow capacity of the air infeed tube, therebydefeating the purpose of the tube. Larger tubes detract from the area ofthe conduit exit through which the contents of the container can flow,thereby causing the outflow of the contents to be undesirably slow.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fitmentfor use in the discharge of pourable contents from a container whereinthe constancy of uniform flow of contents from the container isminimally, if at all, adversely affected by the need for accommodatinginflow of ambient air into the container as the contents are dischargedfrom the container through a conduit defined by the fitment. Thisconstancy of uniform flow of contents is effected by forming at leastthe exit end of the conduit with an ellipsoidal cross-sectional geometryincluding a minor portion and a major portion wherein the minor portionof the ellipsoidal geometry of the conduit exit is oriented verticallyuppermost toward (topwise of) the top end of the upright container. Bythis orientation of the fitment, the contents of the container exit viathe major portion of the conduit exit end geometry while ambient airsimultaneously enters the container via the minor portion of the conduitgeometry.

Preferably the present fitment includes a tear-away membrane disposedwithin the conduit and is substantially the same as the cross-sectionalgeometry of the conduit at the location of the membrane such that theperimeter of the memrane is initially bonded to the inner wall of theconduit to close the conduit.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the point ofinitiation of the tearing away of the membrane of the present fitmentpreferably is selected to be associated with the minor portion of theopening. Thus, force required for initiation of the tearing away of themembrane is minimized and only gradually increases as the membrane isfurther torn away from the wall of the conduit, thereby enhancing theuniformity of tearing away of the membrane.

The fitment of the present invention further includes a reclosable capcomponent which is integrally hinged to the outboard rim of the conduitwall to define a fitment of the one-piece variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a prior art gable top containerhaving a prior art fitment affixed to a top panel of the gable top;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of one embodiment of a fitment depictingvarious of the features of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a representation of a further embodiment of a fitmentembodying various of the features of the present invention;

FIG. 4, is top plan view of the fitment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view, in section, of the fitment depicted inFIG. 4 and taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6, is a side elevation view, in section, of the fitment depicted inFIG. 4 and taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view, in section, of a fitment of the presentinvention as affixed to a top panel of a gable top type container;

FIG. 8 is detail view, in section, of that portion of the fitmentdepicted in FIG. 6 taken generally along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a detailed view, in section, of that portion of the fitmentdepicted in FIG. 5 in section, taken generally along the line 9-9 ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a detailed view, in section, of that portion of the fitmentdepicted in FIG. 6, taken generally along line 10-10 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a detailed view, in section, of that portion of the fitmentdepicted in FIG. 6 taken generally along line 11-11 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is a detailed view, in section, of that portion of the fitmentdepicted in FIG. 6, taken generally along line 12-12 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a geometricalshape of an opening through a fitment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of another alternative embodiment of ageometrical shape of an opening through a fitment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of another alternative embodiment of ageometrical shape of an opening through a fitment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic representation of another alternative embodimentof a fitment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a representation of the fitment depicted in FIG. 16 with itslid closed; and,

FIG. 18 is a representation of the right-hand side, of the fitmentdepicted in FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts a prior art gable top type paperboard container 10. Thetop end 12 of the container is closed as by multiple panels foldedinwardly of the center of the container to define first and secondlateral inclined panels 14 and 16 (among others) having their distaledges 18 and 20 bonded together to define a fin 24. The depictedcontainer includes an opening 58 (See FIG. 7) through the thickness ofthe top panel 14 and a fitment 26 affixed to the panel in overlying andcovering relationship to the opening, thereby providing a means for thedispensing of the contents of the container out through the fitment.Other containers having pour spouts affixed to the top end of a sidewall of the container have been proposed. Further, the prior artincludes containers having pour spouts associated with a flat top end ofthe container. The present fitment is also useful in these and othercontainers.

FIG. 2 depicts one embodiment of a fitment 26 embodying various of thefeatures of the present invention. In this embodiment, the fitmentincludes a flat circumferential base flange 34, an upstanding wall 36defining an open-ended conduit 38 providing fluid flow communicationbetween the ambient environment and the interior of a container to whichthe fitment is affixed. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, theconduit is closed by a tamper evident membrane 40 which extends acrossand closes the conduit 38 until such time as the membrane is removed asby a pull-ring 42. A cap 44 is hinged to the wall 36 for temporarilyclosing the conduit against material flow through the conduit, eitherinto or out of the container after the membrane 40 has been removed.

Referring to FIGS. 3-12, and initially FIG. 7, one embodiment of thepresent invention provides a fitment 26 comprising a flatcircumferential flange 34 adapted to be bonded in leak-tightrelationship to a panel 14 of a container 10 and covering an opening 58defined through the thickness of the panel 14.

The embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3-12 is substantially the same as theembodiment depicted in FIG. 2 aside from the geometry of the conduitthrough which material, etc. exits or enters the container. Thus, likenumerals are used to designate like components of these embodimentsexcept where deemed more appropriate for understanding the invention.

In the depicted embodiment of FIGS. 3-12, the flange 34 of the fitmentis adhesively bonded to the outer surface 66 of the panel 14 inoverlying and covering relationship to the opening 58.

Whereas the base flange 34 is shown as being bonded to the outer surface66 of the panel 14 of the container, it is more common to insert thefitment wall 38 through the opening 58 from the interior of thecontainer so that the base flange 34 is bonded to the inner surface 68of the panel 14.

As thus bonded to the top panel of the container, the fitment defines apour spout for the discharge of the contents of the containertherethrough. To this end, the present fitment includes a wall 36upstanding from the flange 34 and which defines an open ended conduit 38which, at one of its opposite ends 60 (entrance), (see FIG. 7) is influid flow communication through the opening 58 in the top panel to theinterior of the container, and the other of its opposite ends 62 (exit)is open to ambient environment external of the container.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 specifically, constancy of uniform flow ofcontents from the container is effected by forming the exit end 62 ofthe conduit 38 with a generally ellipsoidal cross-sectional geometry. By“generally” it is meant that the planar cross-section of the exit end ofthe conduit 38 has at least one major portion 54 and at least onerelatively minor and smaller portion 50, the at least one minor portion50 being oriented vertically above the major portion when the fitment isaffixed to the top end 12 of an upright container. In certainembodiments, the transition 70 (FIGS. 13-15, for example) between themajor and minor portions is a continuous curve and in other embodiments,the transition may be a bend (for example see FIGS. 14 and 15) asdepicted in FIGS. 14 and 15, or other combination of geometries (forexample, see FIGS. 2, 4, 13-16). The definition includes a true ellipse(FIG. 4), a tear drop geometry (FIG. 2, and other geometries. FIGS. 2,4, and 13-16 depict various geometries of the cross-section of theconduit exit opening which are deemed to be useful in the presentinvention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize other similargeometries for the opening which provide the desired functions of theopening as set forth herein.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the ellipsoidal cross-sectionalgeometry of the conduit 38 defines a first (minor) portion 50 having anapex 52 and a second and larger (major) portion 54 having an apex 56.For present purposes, this relationship between the minor and majorportions of the ellipsoidal cross-sectional geometry of the conduit 38may be more specifically defined with reference to the aspect ratio ofthe geometry of the cross-sectional geometry of the conduit.Specifically, in the present invention, the aspect ratio (height “h”divided by width “w”) of the cross-sectional geometry of the conduit 38is greater than one (See FIG. 2), thereby distinguishing the geometry ofthe conduit of the present fitment from prior art circular conduits infitments.

When the fitment of the present invention is affixed to an uprightcontainer (as depicted in FIG. 1 and in the top view of FIG. 2, theheight (h) of the ellipsoidal geometry (depicted in FIG. 2), is alignedsubstantially coincident with the vertical centerplane 46 of the uprightcontainer 10. In a preferred embodiment, the height dimension of theellipsoidal geometry of the present fitment is coincident with thevertical centerplane 46 of the container, but it will be recognized thatthe entire fitment may be moved laterally of the centerplane of thecontainer either to the left or to the right as viewed in FIG. 2,thereby displacing the height dimension out of the centerplane of thecontainer. Moreover, whereas it is preferred that the height dimensionof the ellipsoidal geometry of the conduit of the present fitment beparallel to the centerplane of the container, whether coincident with ordisplaced laterally of, the centerplane, as also depicted in FIG. 2, theheight dimension of the ellipsoidal geometry may be rotated to the leftor right with respect to the centerplane of the container if desired.Angular deviation of the height dimension of the geometry, however,desirably is limited to not more than about 50 degrees either left orright from the centerplane of the container as depicted by angles “A”and “B” of FIG. 2.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the geometry ofthe conduit, the location of the fitment being most vertically of thecontainer to which the fitment is affixed, and the orientation of thefitment minor portion vertically above its major portion, provide forthe outpouring (discharge) of the contents of the container primarilythrough that portion of the conduit defined by the major portion of thecross-sectional geometry of the conduit. Simultaneously, because thebulk, if not all, of the outpouring contents from the container passthrough the major portion of the geometry, the minor portion of thegeometry of the conduit remains open for the inflow of ambient air intothe container to replace the volume of contents being poured out of thecontainer. The flow of the contents out of the container and the flow ofair into the container are depicted by the arrows “C” and “D”,respectively, of FIGS. 4 and 7. By reason of this feature of the presentinvention, the present inventor provides for elimination or at leastsubstantial reduction of the prior art problem of “burping” andresultant erratic flow of contents from the container and the myriad ofundesirable results of such erratic flow. Contrariwise, the flow ofcontents from a container having a fitment of the present inventionassociated therewith is constant and smooth, providing a well-controlledand even-volume stream of contents exiting the container through theconduit. Moreover, because the present invention provides a relativelylarge pathway for the flow of ambient air into the container, it hasbeen found that the contents of the container can be more rapidlydischarged, all without the undesirable aspects of the prior artfitments.

The cross-sectional geometry of the opening 40 (FIG. 7) through the toppanel of the container preferably is of substantially the same size andgeometry as the cross-sectional geometry of the conduit 38 defined bythe wall of the fitment of the present invention, but such opening 40may assume other geometries.

The wall 36 upstanding from the flange 34 defines a conduit 38 throughwhich the contents of the container may be poured (discharged).Preferably, the cross-sectional area of the conduit defined by the wall36 is substantially constant over substantially the entire length of theconduit, but it is acceptable for the cross-sectional area of theconduit to vary along the length of the conduit by an amount which isinsufficient to adversely affect the desired outflow of the containercontents as described herein. For example, the cross-sectional area ofthe conduit at its entrance end 60 may be larger, but preferably notsmaller, than the cross-sectional area of the conduit at its outboardexit opening 62.

Preferably, internally of the conduit 38 there is provided a tear awaymembrane 40 having its perimeter 41 integrally formed with the wall 36(see also FIGS. 8 and 9). A finger pull ring 42 substantially like thepull rings of the prior art, is attached to the membrane at a location72 along the perimeter 41 of the membrane whereby insertion of a fingerinto the ring and applying a pulling force up and outwardly of theconduit, ruptures the membrane 40 initially at the location 72, andfurther application of a pulling force to the ring effects full tearingaway of the membrane from the wall 36, thereby opening the conduit 38for the passage of the contents of the container out of the container.Thus, the membrane/pull ring combination serves as a tamper evidentcomponent of the fitment. In a preferred embodiment, the pull ring isattached to the membrane only at the most vertical portion 73 of theminor portion 50 of the cross-sectional geometry of the conduit (seeFIG. 4).

As noted, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, thepoint of initiation 72 (FIG. 8) of the tearing away of the membrane ofthe present fitment preferably is selected to be coincident with theminor portion 50 of the opening geometry, preferably the most verticalportion of the minor portion. Thus, it is preferred that the geometry ofthe present fitment include a minor portion which relatively smoothlytransitions into the major portion, thereby minimizing the requiredincrease in the force required to tear away the membrane as the tearproceeds along the perimeter of the membrane in a direction away fromthe minor portion.

The fitment of the present invention further includes a cap 44 usefulfor closing the conduit 38 of the fitment as may be desired to preservecontents of the container which may desirably be allowed to remain inthe container, for later use, for example. The cap of the presentfitment includes a generally planar top 74 having an inner surface 76which faces the outboard rim 88 of the wall 36 when the cap is in aclosed position. As seen in FIG. 6, an outer wall 80 extends outwardlyfrom the inner surface 76 of the cap top 74 at a location adjacent toand along the outer perimeter 82 of the top. Radially inwardly of theouter wall 80 there is provided an inner wall 84 which also projectsoutwardly from the inner surface 76 of the top of the cap, such innerwall being concentric with, but spaced radially inwardly of, the outerwall 80 to define a void annular space 86 therebetween. The material ofchoice for the fitment, hence the cap and its walls, is a polymericmaterial, such as LDPE, which is sufficiently flexible and resilient aswill permit the outer rim 88 of the wall 36 of the conduit (see FIG. 12)to be received within the annular space 80 defined by the double wallsof the cap, to releasably close and seal the conduit. As desired, theouter rim 88 of the wall 36 may be provided with a circumferentialprojection 90 which may be frictionally snapped into a correspondingcircumferential groove 92 defined in the outer wall 80 of the cap.

The embodiment of FIG. 16 depicts the fitment in its “open” attitude,that is, with the cover hinged open. In FIG. 16, the tamper resistantseal and its accompanying pull ring are depicted in their sealingattitude with respect to the conduit 50. In FIG. 17, the fitment isdepicted with the cap in its closed attitude. FIG. 18 depicts a sideperspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 17.

With reference to several of the Figures, especially FIG. 10, the cap ofthe present fitment is integrally formed with the wall 36 of thefitment. In the depicted embodiment, the joinder between the cap and thebase element is in the form of a hinge 100, one end 102 of which isintegrally formed with the wall 36 and the opposite end 104 of which isintegrally formed with the outer wall 80 of the cap. The depicted hingeincludes three elements comprising first and second elongated elements106, 108 respectively, each of which is provided with a reducedthickness 110 generally centrally of the length thereof and a thirdelement 112 which is integrally formed with the first and secondelements and includes a central portion 114 which expands from a foldedconfiguration centrally thereof to aid in retention of the cap in itsopen position, but which permits the cap to hinge to its closedposition. It will be recognized by one skilled in the art that otherconfigurations of the cap and the perimetral rim of the wall of the basecomponent may be employed for releasably closing the conduit with thecap.

The present invention further includes a method for controlling theconstancy of discharge of pourable contents of a container fitted with apour spout associated with a top end wall of the container comprisingthe steps of establishing a open ended conduit between the interior andthe exterior of the container, defining a cross-sectional geometry forthe conduit, the cross-sectional geometry including at least a majorportion and at least a smaller minor portion, and affixing the pourspout to the container with the minor portion of the cross-sectionalgeometry disposed vertically above the major portion of thecross-sectional geometry, whereby the contents of the container arepreferentially discharged from the container through the at least onemajor portion and ambient air substantially simultaneously enters thecontainer through the at least one minor portion of the geometry.

1. A fitment for a container having a top end and a wall associated withthe top end comprising means defining an opening through said wallassociated with said top end of said container, a circumferential flangemember, a wall circumscribing said opening through said container wallassociated with said top end of said container and upstanding from saidflange member, said wall defining an conduit having entrance and exitends through which contents of said container may be discharged, atleast said exit end of said conduit having a substantially ellipsoidalcross-sectional geometry having at least one major portion and at leastone minor portion, said minor portion being disposed vertically abovesaid major portion when said fitment is affixed to said container. 2.The fitment of claim 1 wherein said cross-sectional geometry of at leastsaid exit end of said conduit has an aspect ratio of less than one. 3.The fitment of claim 1 wherein said container and said fitment eachincludes a longitudinal centerplane and said centerplanes are coincidentwhen said fitment is affixed to the top end of said container.
 4. Thefitment of claim 1 and including a cap member integrally formed inhinged relationship with said wall defining said conduit.
 5. The fitmentof claim 2 wherein said cap member includes first and second annularprojections extending from a surface thereof, said projections beingspaced apart from one another to define therebetween a void annularspace, said annular space having a geometry substantially like saidellipsoidal cross-section geometry of said conduit and adapted toreceive therein an outboard rim of said wall to thereby releasably closeand seal said conduit against the passage of the contents of saidcontainer therethrough.
 6. The fitment of claim 1 and including a tearaway membrane disposed across and closing said conduit.
 7. The fitmentof claim 6 and including pull ring means affixed to said tear away flapat a location within said minor portion of said cross-sectional geometryof said conduit thereby providing for localization of an initial tearaway force applied through said pull ring.
 8. In a fitment forattachment to a wall portion of the top end of a container havingpourable contents and adapted to circumscribe an opening through thethickness of the wall portion of the top end of the container andincluding means for attachment of the fitment to the container, and awall defining a conduit having an inboard open end and an outboard openend having an outboard rim, for the discharge of the contents of thecontainer therethrough, the improvement comprising a cross sectionalgeometry for said outboard open end of said conduit which includes atleast one major portion of a first size and at least one minor portionof a second and smaller size, said minor portion of said geometry beingdisposed most topwise of the top end of the container when the fitmentis attached to the container, whereby ambient air enters the containerthrough said minor portion of said geometry substantially simultaneouslywith the discharge of contents from the container through said majorportion of said geometry.
 9. The improvement of claim 8 and including acap member integrally formed with said wall of said base member, saidcap including an perimetral rim and including an annular void spacedefined adjacent said perimetral rim and adapted to capture therein saidoutboard rim of said wall of said base portion to releasably close andseal the conduit defined by the wall.
 10. The improvement of claim 8wherein said cross sectional geometry is ellipsoidal.
 11. Theimprovement of claim 8 wherein said wall of said base member isconfigured as an open ended conduit.
 12. In a fitment for attachment toa wall portion of the top end of a container having pourable contents,the improvement comprising a conduit defined by said fitment for thedischarge of contents from the container, said conduit having an exitopening of a cross-sectional geometry which includes at least one majorportion of a first size and at least one minor portion of a second andsmaller size, said minor portion of said geometry being disposed mosttopwise of the container when the fitment is attached to the top end ofthe container whereby said contents are preferentially discharged fromthe container through said at least one major portion and ambient airsubstantially simultaneously enters the container through said at leastone minor portion of the geometry.
 13. The fitment of claim 12 whereinsaid cross-sectional geometry of said conduit is ellipsoidal.
 14. Thefitment of claim 12 wherein said cross-sectional geometry of at leastsaid exit end of said conduit has an aspect ratio of less than one. 15.A method for controlling the constancy of discharge of a containerfitted with a pour spout associated with a top end wall of the containercomprising the steps of establishing a open ended conduit between theinterior and the exterior. If the container, defining a cross-sectionalgeometry for said conduit, said cross-sectional geometry including afirst major portion and a second and smaller minor portion, and affixingsaid pour spout to said container with said minor portion of saidcross-sectional geometry disposed vertically above said major portion ofsaid cross-sectional geometry, whereby said contents of the containerare preferentially discharged from the container through said at leastone major portion and ambient air substantially simultaneously entersthe container through said at least one minor portion of the geometry inthe course of pouring of the contents from the container.
 16. The methodof claim 15 wherein said cross-sectional geometry of said conduit isellipsoidal.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein said cross-sectionalgeometry of at least said exit end of said conduit has an aspect ratioof less than one.